For Savannans, the dreaded day has arrived: Union General William T. Sherman, encamped outside the city with some 60,000 soldiers, demands that Lieutenant-General W. J. Hardee surrender the city. For Sherman, it is a day to relish: Months of planning and a long, hard march have led to this moment. One week before Christmas, the…
Surely and not altogether slowly, Sherman’s army is advancing upon Savannah. Yet they are also in need of supplies. The goal of taking Savannah and the quest for supplies converge at Fort McAllister this day. The Battle of Fort McAllister begins late in the afternoon and is over in 15 minutes. The 230 defenders of…
Union General William T. Sherman arrives at Pooler this day, some twelve miles from the port city. Soon, Savannah will be his. Twenty miles from Savannah, Sherman’s rear guard, under the command of Major General Jefferson C.Davis, crosses Ebenezer Creek on pontoon bridges. Up to 5000 fugitive slaves, following the Federal army, are told to…